Brilliant Djokovic beats Tsitsipas at ATP Finals to end Greek’s year-end No 1 hopes

Former world No 1 Novak Djokovic produced a brilliant performance as he beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 7-6 (4) to open his ATP Finals account with a win on day two in Turin.

The Serb, looking to join Roger Federer in winning the event for a sixth time, beat the Greek for the ninth time in a row to join Andrey Rublev at the top of the Red Group after he won the all-Russian battle with Daniil Medvedev earlier in the day.

The defeat also ended Tsitsipas’s hopes of finishing the year ranked No 1; that title will be held by either the current No 1 Carlos Alcaraz, or Rafael Nadal. Nadal must win the title to edge out his fellow Spaniard.

“The first game was obviously very important to break his serve,” Djokovic said. “It was a huge boost of confidence and a relief because we both knew it was going to be a tough match. We’ve played some really tight matches in the last few tournaments against each other.

“I served really well, played a great tiebreak. I’m really happy. The key was the first game and after that I managed to hold my nerve in the right moments.”

Djokovic races out of the blocks

Less than two weeks after their pulsating clash at the Paris Masters, which Djokovic won in a third-set tiebreak,

Djokovic was on fire right form the start, breaking Tsitsipas in the opening game as he cramped him on his forehand in the backhand corner.

The Serb, looking to equal Roger Federer’s record of six ATP Finals titles, was enjoying himself in every department, from his baseline bread and butter to touch play around the net.

To his credit, Tsitsipas didn’t drop his head; the problem was he couldn’t make an impression on the Djokovic serve. The Serb dropped just three points on his serve to 5-4 and it took an unbelievable drop shot to get a fourth in the following game. It wasn’t enough, though, and Djokovic served out for the set after 39 minutes, which included nine forehand winners.

Tsitsipas tries to turn things around

When they played in Paris, Tsitsipas benefitted from a let-down from Djokovic in the second set but while that was not forthcoming, the Greek started to mix things up, serving and volleying brilliantly as he gave the Serb a different look on return.

And the let-down came. At 2-1, Djokovic threw in two double faults to offer Tsitsipas a first break point of the match and though he was shaky on serve again, the former world No 1 saved it with a good smash.

At 4-4, a wild mis-hit from Tsitsipas gave Djokovic 15-30 but the Greek held serve.

If anything, Tsitsipas was the better player for much of the second set but when it came to the tiebreak, a stunning pass from Djokovic sealed the early mini-break and he never looked back as he clinched it to open the event with a fine victory.

Tsitsipas had needed to win the title and stay unbeaten throughout to finish as world No 1; now he faces a battle to qualify for the semi-finals.

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